GCSE English - Tips?

SootySweep1

Hi
I think you need to talk to his English teacher urgently to understand why he's only achieving a 3 I.e. what's missing from his work to achieve a higher grade ?

If his predicted grades are 5-7 in other subjects then that suggests ability including English, as most subjects will require english eg history or geography.

pollypenny

Newly_retired said:

As well as getting copies of past papers ( check and double check it is the right board, option , level etc ) get a copy of the mark scheme. If you know what will score points, it is half the battle. Definitely read and re-read the questions, know how many must be answered, how many marks for which question, so allocating a suitable amount of time to each question. Read the question set, and answer that question, not the one you wish had been asked. Generic advice.
There will not be much time one term re-starts and all subjects will be pushing revision, probably extra lessons etc. Check the exam timetable.

Writing the times to spend on each can help focus and pacing. 

Read the question so you hear your voice in your head. Underline key words. At foundation level there will be 'what ...' questions, but also 'how ...' questions. 

In your reading section, previously known as comprehension, first read the passage quickly to get the gist.  Secondly, read it so you hear your voice in your head.  Underline key words - but do not use a highlighter - these dominate when you need to focus on something else. 

ChilliBob

RAS said:

Listening to a couple of tutors working with lads in the local library was informative. Time planning was vital. Set aside time at the beginning to decide questions and sketch plan each answer. Allow specific time for each question and monitor it.

I have to say that similar advice enabled me to pass a professional exam. Most people got involved in the case study, then rushed the short questions, even though the case study only attracted 40% of the marks. Depending on your planning time, the case study shouldn't be started until 60-70 minutes before the 3 hour exam ended, rather than hogging the early hours.

For the library lads, mark schemes were vital, both were taught about an exercise for which part 1 and 3 each attracted 20% of the marks and part 2 the other 60%. Students were encouraged to write 3 paras for part 2, each on a different aspect and containing three sentences which cited evidence. If they ran short of time on a question, the third section should contain three conclusions referring back to section 2, even if they were barely described, before moving to the next question. This avoided them spending ages on section 1, rushing section 2 and losing almost all of the points on section 3. And running out of time to answer the last question/exercise, forfeiting a large chunk of marks.

The lads were also taught how to look for evidence in texts and quote directly.

Thanks, this all makes perfect sense, and hopefully if he doesn't know this already his mathematical inclined brain will latch on to it

I remember the same ideas well especially when I had an evil multiple choice Economics exam, I think it was something like two or three hours and around 1.5-2 mins a question.. With negative marking :0

ChilliBob

Spendless said:

Hi, my daughter attended 3 different schools in yr11 (due to an issue not completely identified even now and she's 21 today!). She attended school part time and had  private tutors as well at home, When the maths tutor gave notice, I found somewhere  that she could attend which was at a  premises after school that ran English and Maths tuition and had several on-site tutors. Pretty sure it was a national chain but the name escapes me. I tried google with the address we attended but nothing has shown up. It's possible it went kaput due to the pandemic and several years of assessing work rather than sitting exams though. Worth having a look if you can find something similar though as it was this time of year that daughter started there.

Worst case scenario, what are post 16 plans? Will his desired course take him on and just say you re-sit the English exam/s again if you don't attain grade 4? When I was having school strife with DD one of the the tutors told me that places would accept English Lang OR English Lit as the required English qualification for sixth form. Whether that's still the case today I don't know but perhaps worth asking if just getting the grade in one would be enough.

Long term - once this blip is overcome  for many things it won't matter. My daughter due to school problems only took 6  GCSEs and had to drop her strongest subjects due to school changes. To my astonishment she passed them all  at grades 4-6 inc  (having tutors helped so did the numerous videos she watched about it) which included English and Maths and was accepted onto her level 3 course at an FE college (having zero desire to do A levels or continue at a school) and is now doing a degree. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to see if the same chain was still running, that's really kind of you. And a well done to your and your daughter, sounds like it's come up trumps after a tricky period

I'm not 100% sure on post 16 plans. I know a sixth form was mentioned, which tbh was a surprise as college was always mentioned more. I sense this is a the mor likely outcome, but I'm not close enough to it to know the specifics. It's actually my wife's nephew, but being a native English person and her being Polish it sort of makes sense for me to be more involved here!

For sure you can get by without certain things and there are for sure other options, but, it's all a, damn sight easier if you do pass English and Maths! 

2childmum2

Have a look at the Mr Bruff videos on YouTube. He gives very clear guidance on exactly what each question is asking.and how to answer it. He is really aiming at top grades but the videos will still be useful.  The newer GCSE exams, which I think started in 2017 for English and use numbers for grades are different than the older letter graded ones (DS took the earlier and DD the later ones)

I would suggest not worrying too much about the literature and focus on the language as that is the one most employers will want.

I have a friend teaching English GCSE at a sixth form college - she teaches all the students who have to keep on taking it til they pass. She finds that most of them haven't been taught how to specifically pass the language exam. Schools seem to focus on the literature and expect students to apply that to the language exam
 It won't be true of every school but was true for my DD. 

ChilliBob

2childmum2 said:

Have a look at the Mr Bruff videos on YouTube. He gives very clear guidance on exactly what each question is asking.and how to answer it. He is really aiming at top grades but the videos will still be useful.  The newer GCSE exams, which I think started in 2017 for English and use numbers for grades are different than the older letter graded ones (DS took the earlier and DD the later ones)

I would suggest not worrying too much about the literature and focus on the language as that is the one most employers will want.

I have a friend teaching English GCSE at a sixth form college - she teaches all the students who have to keep on taking it til they pass. She finds that most of them haven't been taught how to specifically pass the language exam. Schools seem to focus on the literature and expect students to apply that to the language exam
 It won't be true of every school but was true for my DD. 

Sorry for the delayed response. Many thanks for the suggestion - I have found the Bruff dude on YouTube, it looks brilliant. I have shared with both my wife's nephew, the subject of this thread, and my nephew, who's 'a bit wobbly' but not too bad, to use his words. And yes, before anyone suggests it, we have gone down the study budy route with the two of them, but it's not really worked! They just mess about and stuff!

It's very interesting the language VS literature side of things. You would think at this sort of level they'd focus on at least a 5-7 in Language and then focus on Literature. As you say, perhaps they assume one comes with the other. I can see that to a degree but not fully.

Thanks again, and to any other responses I may have not specifically thanked or replied to. It's all been read and considered, I just hope it makes some difference! 

Frith

Yes, I came on here to say Mr Bruff all the way!

My son (special school after the age of 9, missed 2 years from the age of 15 onwards), got a 3 in English aged 16. 

2 years at home watching Mr Bruff, he retook and got a level 8! 

The English GCSE now is weirdly fake and formulaic. You just need to follow the "rules" as how to answer each question.